Unlawful instruments and goods: Afghanistan,culture and the Taliban

Abstract

This brief paper offers a dialectical account of the cultural policies devised by the Taliban during their rule, which led to the banning of ‘unlawful goods and instruments' such as musical instruments and films. It suggests 3 aspects to this dialectical account. Firstly, an analysis of the global context against which these policies were devised and conducted. Secondly, an analysis of the specific policy content of the various cultural agencies involved. Thirdly, an analysis of the impact these factors had on the everyday lives of Afghan people and communities. It tries to show in detail how these 3 aspects stand in a dialectical relationship to each other. It is argued that such an approach contributes to a greater understanding of the meanings behind such actions to takes us beyond any initial repudiation of the Taliban's cultural repression.